Do you have an interest in the law and want to pursue a career in the legal profession? Do you need additional training to help you change careers or perform your job more effectively? Do you want to acquire marketable skills that lead to a good job where you make between $22,000 - $65,000 a year?

If so, the Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies program at NWACC is perfect for you!

Whether you are just graduating from high school, wanting to acquire marketable skills to complement another degree, returning to the job market, enhancing or changing careers, or planning to move up in the field, a paralegal education can help you prepare for the career you want.

The AAS in Paralegal is an American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal program designed for paralegal professionals who assist attorneys in the research, investigation, document preparation, trial coordination, case management and writing responsibilities of a law firm, corporate legal department, or government law office or judicial agency. Students interested in the program need excellent writing and communication skills, the ability to accept responsibility and take direction, and an aptitude for organizing legal ideas and factual materials. As less than 30% of all paralegal programs have ABA approval status, this is a mark of distinction and shows that the program meets high standards in the areas of faculty, student achievement, curriculum and the overall student services of the college.

The NWACC program supports the general principles of ethical legal practice, professional responsibility, and the prohibition against the unauthorized practice of law by non-lawyers. Students receive extensive training in legal ethics, including the mandate that paralegals work only under the supervision of attorneys and are prohibited by law from giving legal advice to the public.

What does a Paralegal do?

While paralegals are prohibited from giving legal advice, accepting and settling cases and representing clients in courts of law, they have a broad range of responsibilities. Under the supervision of attorneys, their duties include, but are not limited to:

Drafting legal documents

Interviewing clients and witnesses

Conducting legal research

Assisting attorneys in court and before administrative agencies

Searching public records

Filing documents with the appropriate authorities

Preparing court documents

Forming corporations and other business entities and maintaining the necessary records

Preparing deposition summaries

Preparing trial exhibits

Conducting preliminary factual investigations and organizing data

Format and Location

Required courses are available in-person on NWACC’s main campus in Bentonville or its outlying centers in Springdale and Farmington. Courses are also available in a hybrid format (both in-person and online), providing you the convenience of learning when and where you want.

Classes specific to the Paralegal Studies program may require face-to-face instruction on NWACC’s main campus.

*delivery options will vary by semester

For more information about the Paralegal Program, contact 479.619.3358 or mlowe@nwacc.edu